A Spell of Happiness

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love The Peachkeeper, and so I figured Garden Spells would be good, and it is, but I was surprised by a few things. The Peachkeeper has minimum to 0 swearing (as far as I can remember), and the "romance" scenes isn't as "romantic" or not as detailed as GS is (I know I'm somewhat naive, but that is why I figured GS would be just as good). I don't want to compare the books, they are both equally good and entertaining, but I was surprised by the language and "romance" in GS

I do enjoy third person narrative, especially an omniscient narrator, it's very rare these days, the narrator got into all the minds of several characters, and the reader is able to see different scenes in Bascom, North Carolina, and not just the Waverly home. The characters are lovable and jump off the page. Really, they are well developed and each character's presence affects the tone/setting, especially other characters.

The pacing of the story was just right. Sarah Addison Allen has a gift for detail, and conveying magic in the real world (I just got done reading the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and watching the film, so magic is stuck in my head right now), instead of a world created especially for magical beings. The past, present and future come together in a neat bouquet of flowers, herbs, thorns, and apples, which have a little magic of their own.

There were some funny moments, moments when I cried, felt anxious, and moments when I was just plain happy! A treat for the senses!


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ภูมใจ to be American

Yay! It's the 4th of July. A day where BBQ's and swimming are a part of the celebrations (like turkey on Thanksgiving and presents at Christmas), eat watermelon and have seed spitting contests (and pee all night long), and watch fireworks into the night (and pee because you ate too many slices of watermelon, I swear watermelon is 99.9% water and .1% fruit). I guess it is also a good time to be thankful for how lucky we are as Americans. I'm not being "arrogant," but I just call it good ol' fashion pride (the good kind and there is a good kind despite what people say). In Thai, there are different words for pride, the good kind--not boasting, but feeling good about a sense of accomplishment, a healthy dose of sef-esteem/confidence-- ภูมิใจ (pronounced poomjai), and the bad kind--arrogant, obnoxious, "I want to pop your head like a pimple until you shut-up about yourself"-- อุทธัจ (ootat) or  ความอหังการ (kwamahang gan). Around Bangkok, I would see banners that read  "ภูมใจไนไทย" (or something like that), and it made me think of that great song "I'm Proud to be an American." ภูมใจ allows us to go out and make something of ourselves. To capture the American dream. To rise from the ashes and be a noble nation/people.  It's why Americans love Kate,  Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cambridge--a middle class girl who becomes a princess, I mean duchess--that is all I want! So, I think it's ok to be ภูมใจ, and it's ok to be ภูมใจ of America. We have accomplished a  lot in our short existence. 

Yes, we are lucky to live in America, and don't you forget. It took living in a foreign country for me to realize it. Not that where I lived was bad, it just wasn't America. Thailand is a free country (but with most free countries there are boundaries and laws to protect people from their own stupidity), the name does mean free, ประเทศไทย, not "land of smiles." There are some laws in Thailand that we don't have in America that are based on tradition and culture--like you can't talk bad about the king, but a taxi driver will go off on the prince/future king (???), or you can't sit on, or pose, like a Buddha statue in a picture to be a cute or funny tourist, because you will get arrested. I saw Brokedown Palace--you don't want to get arrested. (It's scary being in a foreign country and going to their jails, and facing their court system, and not really knowing what is going on around you because of a language barrier). Of course, I love Thailand (like I love America, it is my second home), and admire the people's devotion and respect to their culture, traditions, and laws (I try my best to respect their customs and beliefs--I never talk bad about the king, he's cool). We have things that we honor and respect--the flag.

So back to why I started writing this . . . ภูมใจ to be American

1. A little website called Facebook
2. Freedom of Speech
3. Freedom to not listen to others overusing (abusing) their freedom of speech
4. Freedom to be Creative and innovative
5. Decent education
6. You can gossip about anyone in Hollywood to make money (i.e. Us and Star magazines)
7. Fireworks on the 4th of July
8. You can drink water from the faucet

There are a bajillion things that makes America great. And yes, I am ภูมใจ to be American!